Rajasthan is living through a strange June contradiction right now. In one part of the state, pre-monsoon activity has kicked off a spell of storms and rain, while at the very same time the western plains are baking under harsh sun and severe heat. The latest bulletin from the Jaipur centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) captures this two-sided picture, with clouds and relief in some places and heatwave-like heat in others.
Why the weather flipped so suddenly
According to weather scientists, a fresh western disturbance colliding with a local cyclonic circulation has stirred up the atmosphere over the state. That has created favourable conditions for dust storms and patchy light to moderate rain. The IMD report notes that moisture in the atmosphere is currently being recorded between 20 and 60 percent, and it is this moisture that is strengthening cloud movement and local thunder-and-lightning systems. The border districts of western and eastern Rajasthan are feeling the change most strongly.
The department has issued an alert for the next 24 hours, warning of strong thunderstorms, lightning and rain accompanied by gusty winds across many parts of the state. Even so, the sun keeps its sharp edge in the western belt, leaving maximum temperatures in the desert areas at or slightly above normal. IMD Jaipur has advised the general public, and farmers in particular, not to take shelter under large trees or flimsy structures during thunder and lightning.
Relief in sight for Jaipur and Ajmer divisions
People in the capital Jaipur, worn down by humidity and heat for the past few days, are set to get major relief soon. The local forecast from the Jaipur weather centre says the city could see partly cloudy skies over the next 24 hours. Along with that, Jaipur and its surrounding rural areas may get thunder, lightning and rain accompanied by gusty winds blowing at 40 to 50 kilometres per hour. The maximum temperature here was recorded at 37.0°C, which is 2.6 degrees below normal, while the minimum stayed at 28.3°C, keeping the nights mildly humid.
The Ajmer division has also seen the weather turn quickly. According to the official IMD report, the maximum temperature in Ajmer was 37.6°C, about 1.1 degrees Celsius below normal. The town is likely to see a dust storm along with light rain.
Phalodi sizzles while Sangaria gets a soaking
While clouds settle over Jaipur and Ajmer, western Rajasthan's Phalodi is going through the exact opposite. Over the past 24 hours, Phalodi was the hottest place in the whole state, with the maximum temperature climbing to 42.0°C. Dry winds and a blazing sun leave the roads looking deserted, almost curfew-like, by midday. The IMD says light clouds may gather here too by late evening, but with temperatures staying high, people are still facing heatwave-like conditions.
On the other side, Hanumangarh's Sangaria (Sangria AWS) and nearby areas showed the seasonal shift clearly. The area logged 3.5 mm of rain in the past 24 hours, which pulled the maximum temperature down to 30.9°C. By contrast, Jalore (Jalore AWS) recorded a maximum of 37.1°C and a minimum of 30.1°C. In Jalore, relative humidity climbed to 59 percent in the evening, leaving the air heavy and people drenched in sweat.
